The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Halton Hills Public Library announced on February 15 the arrival of Light Therapy Lamps to brighten up the dreary days of winter. For many people, the first signs of shorter days in fall can be stressful. For no apparent reason, feelings of depression, irritability and lack of energy can ap- pear out of nowhere in late fall and disappear as quick- ly as they came in spring. If you feel this way every year, you are not alone. The culprit could be Seasonal Affective Disor- der. Symptoms can run the gamut from general mal- aise throughout the winter months to full-blown de- pression. " S o m e p e o p l e a r e vulnerable to a type of depression that follows a seasonal pattern. For them, the shortening days of late autumn are the beginning of a type of clinical de- pression that can last until spring. This condition is called 'Seasonal Affective Disorder,' or SAD."-- Canadian Mental Health Association. The exact cause of SAD is still unknown. Theor- ies include a drop in the brain's serotonin levels-- the feel-good chemical in your brain--due to lack of sunlight, or imbalance of melatonin, which regulates sleep levels. Whatever the cause, it can be debilitat- ing and even embarrassing to admit to family and friends. Telling someone, a doctor or other medical professional, can make such a difference. One of the aids to this disorder has been around for some time and has seen real success. This is called, "light therapy". Research has shown that 60 to 70 per cent of patients with SAD improve with daily exposure to bright, artifi- cial light. For the first time, the Halton Hills Public Li- brary has obtained light therapy lamps and is of- fering them free of charge for community use. "We are excited to pro- vide these devices to our patrons," said Lee Pud- dephat t , Communi ty Librarian. "Many of us get the winter blues to some extent, and it's great to be able to offer this sup- portive technology. While they are here, people can look for a great read or movie, or engage in so- cial interaction as well… all these things can help to lift spirits during the darker months." Patrons may enjoy the benefits of light therapy for 20 to 30 minutes while reading a book, a maga- zine, or using a computer. The lamps are available at both branches in Acton and Georgetown. They are for in-library use, on a first-come, first-served basis. Volume 21 No. 08 Thursday, February 22, 2018 GEORGETOWN 905-877-0149 www.georgetownchrysler.ca Your Actonian connection for Great Savings! RAM • DODGE JEEP CHRYSLER C a l l P h i l Your Hometown Newspaper NEW News stand Price 40¢ + GST The 1998 - 2018 GEESE LAKE: Normally a playground for all things 'geese', the Beerman's front yard on Hwy. 7 south of Rockwood resembled a lake on tuesday after the rapid thaw and heavy rain. - Vivien Fleisher photo Library announces new light therapy lamps See more on Page 08